TNA Impact Report – 12/19/2013

By Amish Patel -
December 20, 2013

They opened with a video highlighting the Final Resolution event.

Backstage, Magnus asked a staffer whether Jeff Hardy or Dixie Carter had been seen and they hadn’t checked in yet. He said that when they show up, tell them he went out to say something that will get attention.

Magnus came to the ring and said that like everyone else he loves the business and everyone works hard on the road to achieve in the business. He said that he can’t help where he’s from but he’s proud that he’s made his career in the United States. He said that he’s learned that money talks and everything else walks. He said that while he loves the money that he makes, he’s never been about cars or big buys, he’s been about dignity and respect and honor and wonders if the same can be said about his opponent, Jeff Hardy.

Magnus says that Hardy has had his demons and he’s beaten them but he has to wonder why Hardy was filmed having dinner and drinks with Dixie Carter. He painted the idea that Hardy and Carter might be in cahoots tonight and said that he’s come too far to let anything go. He demands Jeff Hardy explain himself.

Hardy came out and demanded to know how Magnus can come off accusing him. Magnus said that the fans might have forgotten, but he hasn’t forgotten 10/10/10 when Hardy sold out to get his hands on the TNA title. Hardy said that it was a different time and he was in a different place. Magnus said he was in a ring just like this one and he sold out. He said that kids all over the world idolize Hardy and he asked what was going to happen to them if Hardy sold out. Hardy told Magnus to worry about his own life, not Hardy’s, and walked out.

Magnus’ promo was really polished. He’s come a long way.

Kurt Angle was interviewed by Christy Hemme. He said that a lot has happened to him in recent months but tonight is the night that everything changes and he shows the world that he still has it. He promised to beat Roode twice tonight and that tonight was only the beginning.

They aired a video piece on Angle vs. Roode.

They opened with a video highlighting the Final Resolution event.

Backstage, Magnus asked a staffer whether Jeff Hardy or Dixie Carter had been seen and they hadn’t checked in yet. He said that when they show up, tell them he went out to say something that will get attention.

Magnus came to the ring and said that like everyone else he loves the business and everyone works hard on the road to achieve in the business. He said that he can’t help where he’s from but he’s proud that he’s made his career in the United States. He said that he’s learned that money talks and everything else walks. He said that while he loves the money that he makes, he’s never been about cars or big buys, he’s been about dignity and respect and honor and wonders if the same can be said about his opponent, Jeff Hardy.

Magnus says that Hardy has had his demons and he’s beaten them but he has to wonder why Hardy was filmed having dinner and drinks with Dixie Carter. He painted the idea that Hardy and Carter might be in cahoots tonight and said that he’s come too far to let anything go. He demands Jeff Hardy explain himself.

Hardy came out and demanded to know how Magnus can come off accusing him. Magnus said that the fans might have forgotten, but he hasn’t forgotten 10/10/10 when Hardy sold out to get his hands on the TNA title. Hardy said that it was a different time and he was in a different place. Magnus said he was in a ring just like this one and he sold out. He said that kids all over the world idolize Hardy and he asked what was going to happen to them if Hardy sold out. Hardy told Magnus to worry about his own life, not Hardy’s, and walked out.

Magnus’ promo was really polished. He’s come a long way.

Kurt Angle was interviewed by Christy Hemme. He said that a lot has happened to him in recent months but tonight is the night that everything changes and he shows the world that he still has it. He promised to beat Roode twice tonight and that tonight was only the beginning.

They aired a video piece on Angle vs. Roode.

Angle made his way to the ring as they went to commercial.

Backstage, Jeremy Borash was in front of a conference room. He said that the room behind him would reveal the briefcases in Feast or Fired. Chavo Guerrero said he has a 75% chance of a title shot and feels good. Zema Ion showed up and wanted to know why no one asked him how he feels. Guerrero said he has a 25% chance to being fired and if he disrespects Chavo again, he has a 100% chance of being punched in the face. They entered the room

Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Roode: Best of Three Falls

They went into a back and forth feeling out process. Roode avoided an Olympic Slam. He went for a Fireman’s Carry but Angle went for an anklelock. Roode escaped and they faced off. The crowd was all over Bobby.

They pushed Dixie’s Twitter. Pretty silly they don’t push the other Twitters as well, especially when you compare them to how WWE promotes their accounts on WWE TV.

They battled to the outside and back inside. Roode lowblowed Angle as the referee was distracted and nailed a DVDR, scoring the pin.

Winner of the First Fall: Bobby Roode

First fall was the usual solid stuff you’d expect from these two.

When we returned, Roode was working over Angle in Fall Two, nailing a suplex. Angle began mounting a comeback but missed a charge in the corner, nailing his shoulder against the ringpost. Angle still sidestepped a crossface attempt and nailed an Olympic Slam for the three count.

Winnter of the Second Fall: Kurt Angle!

Angle stopped Roode from leaving the Arena and nailed a series of German suplexes. Roode cut him off and locked on the crossface. Angle rolled through but failed with the Angle Slam. Roode caught him with the Divorce Court and went back to the Crossface.

Angle grabbed the ankle and locked on an anklelock, turning Roode over. Roode teased taping but fought his way to the ropes. Angle pulled him away from the ropes and locked Roode in a Crossface of his own. Roode fought his way out and went for the DVDR but Angle slipped out and nailed the Olympic Slam for a near fall.

Roode rolled to the outside to catch his breath but Angle nailed him from behind and tossed Roode back into the ring. Roode tried to scramble back to the outside but was trapped with an anklelock. Roode was able to reverse the move and use a forward roll, holding the ropes to insure the pinfall.

Your winner: Bobby Roode!

Good back and forth match but too short to be anything more than just a good match. Still, some good back and forth exchanges.

Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviewed James Storm and Gunner. Borash noted that Gunner stepped over his own partner to get the case. Gunner said that they both knew the rules and Storm would have done the same. Borash asked Storm if that was true and he blew it off, obviously annoyed with his partner. He said that they needed to go in and see if Gunner’s “little gamble” paid off. Gunner questioned him what that meant and Storm reminded him he might about to be fired. They went in.

The announcers reviewed Kurt Angle’s reaction after losing to Roode. They caught up with Roode in the locker room. A sad Angle said that he didn’t know what happened. He said he wasn’t outwrestled but was outsmarted again. He said that Roode has been doing it since Bound for Glory. Angle was asked if Roode had his number. Angle said that’s the most terrifying thing he’s ever heard as his pride won’t allow him to admit that. He said he has the holidays coming up with his family and he has to think about what his next move is. He said right now, he doesn’t know. Good, serious promo from Angle, treated like a real locker room interview after an athlete has lost an important game. I like the presentation.

They aired a video piece on Madison Rayne’s return to the company.

Ethan Carter III arrived at the briefcase. He told Jeremy Borash he still owes him a match but not tonight. Carter’s confidence on the mic is really good. He noted that no matter what’s in the case, he knows the boss. Carter received a phone call and walked off the interview but another camera followed him. It was Dixie Carter calling and he asked if she had taken care of the case. She said that they were sealed and the law firm they use is responsible so she doesn’t even know what case he is holding and there’s nothing she can do about it. He asked what happens if he is fired and she apologized, saying there isn’t anything she can do.

Backstage, Eric Young said he dropped a “mind grenade” on Joseph Park and this week, he has some gifts (he showed off a terribly wrapped steel chair) to bring him back to the old times.

Eric Young came to the ring. They went to a video feature on Bad Influence vs. Joseph Park. When we returned, Young was in the ring with a table full of presents. He called out Park.

Young asked the crowd to help him and told Park that he’s really Abyss. Park said that his head is a blur and he doesn’t know what to believe, but he knows his name is Joseph Park. Young said he was a scientist and punched Park, Park bled and Abyss showed up. Park said that everything was a blur and he doesn’t remember.

Young said that he’s going to have another science experiment right now. He signed up Park to face Bad Influence in a Monster’s Ball match. Park questioned Young and asked him if he lost it. He said that was his brother’s match, not his. He said that he won’t do it and he’s putting his foot down.

Young said that he had another experiment and that was to give Park some gifts to get the juices flowing for Christmas. The first gift was a steel chair. The second was a sack of thumbtacks. The third one was a strand of barbed wire. Park said that he appreciates all of these but he won’t do it and that’s no.

Young said that as a showman, he saved the best for last. He asked Park to go under the ring to help him get the last gift. He pulled out Janice, nailed board Abyss has used in the past to bludgeon people. Park looked at it and said he was in next week.

Backstage, Jeff Hardy was seething in the locker room. Samoa Joe sat down next to home. Joe said there’s no reason for him to look like this unless what Magnus said has some truth. Hardy started to get upset but Joe cut him off and said that he understands what’s going on because it’s a hard business with the worst working environment so he can understand why someone would take a short-cut, but he never thought it would be Jeff. Jeff said he doesn’t have to explain himself to anyone, not even Joe, and walked off.

We go to the Feast or Fired reveal in a board room with Dixie Carter. This was patterned after a big reality TV elimination, right down to the music in the background. I’m not a fan of it in a pro wrestling context but it’s different.

Zema Ion opened first. He said there was a 100% chance he was going home with gold around his waist. He earned a X-Division title shot. He celebrated and left, saying he was keeping the case.

Next was Gunner. He was asked if Storm would be his partner if he earned a Tag title shot. He said that they may have an issue right now, but that’s a clown question because Storm is his partner. He revealed a World title shot and was all happy, saying it was about time. Storm wasn’t happy and they locked eyes, obviously not on the same page. Gunner walked off.

This left one man to be fired and one man with a title shot.

Chavo Guerrero was next. He said that no matter what happens, it doesn’t change, he’s still a Guerrero. Ethan Carter 3 said that no matter what, he wasn’t getting fired because he’s a Carter. Sting burst in and Dixie was upset. Sting said that he’s sick to see what’s happening to this company but when he thinks of legacy, he doesn’t see Carter who gets everything handed to him, but Guerrero who’s family was never handed anything. Guerrero said they had to work twice as hard.

Sting said he sees Carter squirming knowing he might be fired so he offers him a way out. He’ll take the case and whatever is within in, saving Carter’s job in exchange for EC3 fighting him one time, no matter what the result of the case is. Carter questioned whether Sting was challenging him again. Sting said he was. Carter said he’ll take the briefcase, but thanks.

They opened the cases at the same time. Guerrero was fired and Carter had a Tag title shot. The Carters hugged happily as Sting consoled Guerrero. He told Chavo it wasn’t the end but told Ethan it was the beginning of the end for him. He told Dixie she disgusts him and he walked out. The Carters were all happy and left, leaving a distraught Chavo sitting there to contemplate his future alone.

Backstage, Magnus was preparing for the title match. He said there are a lot of questions and Hardy doesn’t seem to want to answer them but his focus is on the title. He said that he’s going to become the TNA champion and when he does, all questions will be answered.

TNA Knockouts champion Gail Kim & Lei’d Tapa vs. ODB & Madison Rayne

Rayne started with Tapa but was overpowered so she tagged out to ODB. They slugged it out in a corner. Tapa nailed her hard in the mid-section and slammed ODB down.

Kim tagged in, measured and kicked her in the mid-section. She nailed a clothesline in the corner. Tapa tagged in and choked ODB against the ropes.

Kim worked over ODB. Rayne made the tag and attacked Kim but was grabbed by Tapa. ODB tried to stop it but was sent to the floor. ODB pulled her to the floor.

Kim and Rayne faced off. Kim clotheslined her down and ripped her verbally. Rayne shocked her with a backslide and scored the pin. That may the first time someone won with a backslide since Kerry Von Erich won the NWA title from Ric Flair at the Parade of Champions!

Your winners, Madison Rayne & ODB!

A little short but as a way to put Rayne into the chase for the Knockouts belt, it was fine.

Jeff Hardy was approached by Sting. Sting said that Hardy doesn’t owe anyone an explanation except the creatures around the world. Hardy told Sting that he doesn’t understand. Sting assured him that he does, he really does.

We went to footage from Carter’s home over the weekend. Rockstar Spud was apologetic for not getting the TNA title belt back from AJ Styles. She told him that she cannot have a title belt and ordered him to find someone to have a new belt made. Might I suggest Dave Millican? Carter said that Styles was digging his grave deeper and deeper.

We went to a video feature on the tournament and Carter’s offer, which apparently Hardy accepted.

Hardy entered the Arena walking under a ladder. There is a steel cage erected around the ring.

Hardy took the ring mic and said that he’s made a lot of mistakes and things he wishes he could change, but “we are who we are.” He said that Magnus talks about Hardy taking the short-cut to become the World champion but we all know how it ended at Victory Road 2011. He said those memories are bad mistakes that will not be repeated. He said that he met with Carter last week and so what? He said that he thought about his past and his family and his daughter and why he does what he does. He said he loves to entertain the creatures in the ring. The crowd chanted for him. He said that Carter wanted to corrupt him but he knows what that means – Carter would own him. He said that no one owns him or the creatures. He said that he told Carter to take her money and stick it. He said that like AJ Styles, he was going to win the title and represent it the way it’s supposed to be represented.

Dixie Carter’s music started and she came to the ring, stopping him. She obviously wasn’t happy. Carter said that if he wants to compare himself to AJ Styles and they can compare them right now – just like AJ, everything that Hardy has and everything his family has, he owes to Dixie. She said that supported him when he had problems. He said that he understands tht and thanks her. She yelled at him not to cut him off and said that she was the only one who didn’t abandon him when he screwed up. She told the fans they abandoned him and if he wants to do what’s bet for his family instead of her, perhaps he can join AJ in being fired. She told Hardy that then who would sell his music and merchandise. She said that Hardy needs her more than she needs him. She told him to do what was bet for her company and not his family. She decided she was going to stay at ringside.

Magnus vs. Jeff Hardy: Dixieland Match to crown the TNA champion

They have to escape the cage and then get to the belt, which is hanging above the entrance by a ladder.

They locked up and Magnus worked over Hardy, throwing him into the buckles and kicking away at him. Hardy made a comeback and peppered Magnus with punches in the corner and then a swinging kick.

Hardy nailed a series of shoulderblocks. Magnus caught him with a clothesline to cut him off. Hardy attempted to climb and escape the cage but Magnus caught up to him. They battled on the top rope. Hardy slammed his head into the cage and he fell into the ring. Hardy went for the swanton off the top but missed.

Ethan Carter III made his way to the stage and stood by Dixie. Hardy and Magnus battled on the ropes and crashed into the ring. When they returned from commercial, Hardy tried to pull himself through an opening cut for the TNA cameras to shoot through the cage. That was pretty genius. Magnus pulled him through but was kicked off by Hardy.

Hardy was sent into the ropes but nailed a flying forearm. Hardy nailed a springboard into a splash. Magnus came back to drill the back of Hardy’s leg with a chopblock.

Magnus worked over Hardy including a silly looking slam. He then nailed a nice flying elbow. Hardy came back with Whisper in the Wind. Hardy ascended to the top of the cage but instead of escaping, he nailed Whisper in the Wind from the top of the cage. That was pretty nutty.

Hardy climbed the cage and Magus climbed the other side. EC3 ran to Magnus but was kicked away. The announcers wondered if Hardy was indeed in cahoots with Dixie, so you know he’s not. Carter was going to nail Magnus so Hardy nailed him and hit the Twist of Fate on Carter.

Magnus and Hardy both looked at the ladder. Hardy nailed him and they battled back and forth. Magnus tried to make a go at it for the ladder but Hardy grabbed him. They battled and Hardy got the better of it. Dixie tried to stop him and was talking to Hardy. He stood there looking at her then wiped his sweat at her in disgust.

Hardy went to go up the ladder. He tossed his shirt at her. He climbed the ladder but Rockstar Spud came from backstage and slammed the ladder down. Hardy took a pretty sick fall onto the ramp. Spud told Magnus that the title was his and to run.

Magnus looked down at Hardy and made the decision to go for the belt. He climbed the ladder and grabbed the title.

Your winner and new TNA champion, Magnus!

So the story was that after all that he had to say, when push came to shove, it was Magnus who took the short-cut and the assistance.

A good main event.

The show went off the air with Magnus atop of the ladder celebrating with Dixie and Spud showing their approval. Ethan Carter joined them although he didn’t look too happy that anyone else was the champion.